Sun June 22nd

2pm-4pm

The Palestine Museum, Dundas St

 

Speakers: Robert Rae, Ghazi Hussein, Diline Abushaban, (Photographer) Laleh Sherkat 

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights).

Karamah — meaning “dignity” in Arabic — is a creative project to document and then share the experiences of Palestinians under occupation and in exile, with a special focus on Gazans living in Scotland. In the face of displacement and cultural erasure, the KARAMAH project seeks to affirm the right to self-expression and memory, and Palestinian people’s “right to participate in the cultural life of the community” (Article 27).

Hosted by The Palestine Museum, the evening will explore, through conversation, poetry, and film, some of the important questions the project faces – what is the role of the artist, why focus on dignity, how do we safeguard participants, is it art or therapy, does the failure to protect the people of Gaza mark the end of the Universal Human Rights project, and do Cultural Rights matter?

Karamah’s project team of Diline Abushan, Ghazi Hussein, and Robert Rae, together with special guests, will be introduced by Art27’s Helen Trew. Diline Abushan is from Gaza, an artist, author, and community development worker, currently offering safe space through creative arts activity for those directly impacted. Ghazi Hussein is Scotland’s much-loved Palestinian poet and performer, a former political prisoner, whose collaborations with Rae over the last twenty years have led him to write and act for theatre and film, including their BAFTA-winning feature film *Trouble Sleeping*. One of Scotland’s leading socially engaged artists, writer and director Robert Rae brings his recent experience of creating documentary theatre with survivors and victims of conflict as part of the Peace and Reconciliation process in Ireland. The acclaimed Iranian documentary photographer Laleh Sherkat is also part of the team and will be taking photographs during the event; please indicate if you prefer not to be photographed.

Audiences are warmly invited to take part in the discussion, ask questions, and reflect on their own experiences, as well as explore the newly opened Palestinian Museum. This event marks the beginning of a creative journey culminating on Human Rights Day (December 10th), aiming to amplify Palestinian voices through collective storytelling.

Karamah is proud to be part of Culture = Life: A Palestinian Artist Programme for Refugee Week 2025 — a bold declaration that culture is not a luxury, but a human right.

Poster photography : Moyaed Abu Amouna